St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-01

the counter playing with 'Lady's" ears i,
when suddenly she seemed excited and
tried to jump back of me. Soon the
door opened and the treasurer came in.
He walked up to Lady" and began
petting her. Turning to me he said:
"You own Lady,"
Eyes" l replied; that is, picked her
up in the woods one day, so | guess l
about own her"
81 want her for my daughter, and I'll
give you $3.50 for her." he said, in his
quick, short way.
"Well, would like to see her get a
good home" l replied. 81 did intend
taking her down as present to my only
sister, but find that the law forbids taking
the deer out of the State, SO | can't do
that. She is a great pet with the men,
who seem to think they own her, and |
would have to talk to them before | gave
you an answer"
Several of the men, who had been sit
ting around on the boxes, now quickly
left the Van" and went toward the mems
Shanty. The treasurer soon returned to
the uperintendents house, and | had
about forgotten the matter when the door
opened and about twenty Of the men
came in. One who seemed to have been
elected as the speaker stepped to the
counter, placed hand atfectionately on
"Lady's" head and said to me:
"Sir, we hear that the treasurer has Of
fered you $3.50 for Lady and we men
don't want to see you let her leave here,
so we have held meeting and decided
to give you 5000 for her, and if the
treasurer raises his figure We'll see it
every time. We don't want her to 60
away, for she has been our mascot all
winter and we don't propose to let our
luck leave US if we can keep her here"
Cali right, boys" l said, deciding
quickly, and deeply moved by the atfec-
ton shown my little pet. LADY will
stay here until she dies. I'll not sell her,
either. to the treasurer or you men; but
We'll let her go on just as she has done
since she has been here"
While was speaking Lady, got up,
came over and, after pressing her cold
nose against my cheek, she lay down,
put her head under my arm and licked
my hand Had the Bank of England
been offered me in exchange for my pet
feel certain that | should have refused
to part with her. The next morning |
noticed that each mans face wore soft
ened expression as they passed her. and
many hat was lifted and Good morn
ing, Lady," spoken. That night, too,
her pile of leaves and berries was enough
for forty in place of one small deer.
left camp in May and didn't return
until October, but when stepped off the
engine Lady" jumped against me and
nearly knocked me over. The watch
man, in whose charge she had been left,
told me she had slept every night on my
bed and just as the train whistled he had
told her that I was coming and that she
had bounded out of the door and flown to
the PLATFORM 1t did not take US long to
drop into the old ways again. and during
the few weeks following she proved that
she was the same affectionate creature
she had been the previous winter. She
was now in the red coat" and the white
spots made her perfect picture. She
would wander around the place like a
dog, and occasionally slip into the woods
for few berries, or to escape the flies
and heat. She never went beyond the
sound of my whistle, SO didn't worry
about her absence much.
One morning l missed her, but having
my books to attend to did not call her,
and here is where l made a big mistake,
for had l called she might have been
alive to-day. l was startled soon after
by hearing the report Of gun. While
was still wondering who had fired it,
Lady" staggered in and fell at my feet,
the blood gushing from a big hole in her
side. | gave her all the attention could by
washing and binding her around with
soft clothes. She would turn her beau
Liful and mournful eyes to my face, and
then moan so softly that could scarcely
hear it. knowing she was suffering, l
gave her some simple medicine to
ease the poin! When the men heard